WASHINGTON -- The U.S. military inadvertently posted recruiting ads on a Web site aimed at gays -- a group barred from serving in the military if their orientation is public.

Recruiters for the Army, Navy and Air Force said they were surprised to learn that their ads were appearing on GLEE.com, a networking Web site for gay and lesbian professionals, USA Today reported Thursday.

"This is the first I've heard about it," said Maj. Michael Baptista, advertising branch chief for the Army National Guard. "We didn't knowingly advertise on that particular Web site," which he said does not "meet the moral standards" of the military.

Capt. Jack Hanzlik, a Navy recruiting spokesman, said the armed forces branch ordered its more than 8,000 job advertisements to be removed from the Web site.

Thousands of Navy ads were posted to the site seeking doctors, dentists, intelligence analysts, Arabic translators and other skilled services, while hundreds of Air Force jobs were advertised, including optometrists, social workers, physician's assistants and nurses.

The Army ads sought infantry, artillery and other positions.

Only two ads on the site advertised positions in the Marine Corps and both were for civilian positions not covered by the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.